Common English Bible

Sirach 6:2-10 Common English Bible (CEB)

2. Don’t be enamoredof your own intelligencelest your strength be taken captivelike a bull.

3. You will devour your leaves,destroy your fruit,and leave yourself like a withered tree.

4. If you have a bad soul, it will destroy you;it will make you a joke to your enemies.

5. Pleasant speech gains more friends for itself,and a sweet-speaking tonguewill multiply pleasant exchanges.Let those who are at peace with yoube many,but let only one in a thousandbe your advisor.

7. If you make friends, test them thoroughlyand don’t trust them quickly.

8. Some are friends when it is convenient,but they won’t stay aroundduring hard times.

9. There are friends who turn into enemies,and they will revealyour disgraceful arguments.

10. There are friends who are companionsat your table,but they won’t stay during hard times.